Last for boots or shoes.



PATENTED MAY 26,1903. H. w; Moms. LAST FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

APPLIOLTIOI TILED AUG. 28, 1902.

IQ MODEL.

Patented May 26,1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY WILLIAM MOBBS, OF KETTERING, ENGLAND.

LAST FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,379, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed August 28, 1902. Serial No. 121.272. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatLHARRY WILLIAM MoBBs,

useful Improvement in Lasts for Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification. The object of this present invention is to provide improvements in hinged-lasts, whereby a very simple and effective construction is provided for rigidly locking the fore and heel parts in their extended position and for readily unlocking the parts to permit them to be swung into their contracted position.

A further object is to provide a last in which the post-hole tube and the locking-dog tube are formed integral with the strap which hinges the heel and fore parts together.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying dawings, in which- Figurel represents the last in side elevation, partially in section, to more clearly show the interior construction thereof, the parts being shown in full lines locked in their extended position and in dotted lines in their contracted position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the last,

the upper portion of the heel part beingbroken away to more clearly show the locking-dog tube; and 3 is a view in side elevation of the post-hole tube, the locking-dog tube, and the strap for hinging the fore and heel parts of the last together.

The fore part of the last is denoted by 1, and the heel part by 2. These parts are transversely separate at or near the shank of the last and are hinged together in the following manner: The fore part 1 is provided with a narrow recess 3, formed in the bottom and rear face thereof for receiving a strap 4, projecting from the heel part 2 of the last. This strap 4 is hinged to the fore part of the last by a pintle 5, passing transversely through. the body of thefore part and the said strap. The back face 6 of the fore part and the front face 7 of the heel part separate from each other, begin: ning at a point just above the hinged connection between the fore and heel parts. 'The post-hole tube-is denoted by 8, and it is formed integral with the hinge-strap at. The strap is locked to the heelpart 2 of the last by a transverse pin 9, which passes through the body of the heel part and the strap adjacent to the post-hole tube 8.

The means for locking and releasing the fore and heel parts of the last is constructed, ar-

ranged, and operated as follows: A. dog-retaining tube 10 is formed integral with the strap 4 and projects upwardly therefrom in line with and spaced from the post-hole tube 8. A spring-actuated locking-dog is mounted to reciprocate vertically in the tube 10, the said dog being provided with a shank 11, located within the tube, and an arm 12, projecting forwardly from the shank 11 through an elongated slot 13 in the front wall of the tube 10. This dog is yieldinglyheld at the limit of its downward movement by means of a spring 14, located within the tube 10, one end of the spring being secured to the tube and the other end to the shank 11 of the dog.

The fore part 1 of the last is provided with a bearing-plate 15 in its rear face above the slot 13, against which the end of the arm 12 of the dog presses when the fore and heel parts are in their extended or operative position.

The locking-dog is provided with means for the attachment of a releasing device (not shown herein) for positively sliding the dog upwardly out of its locking engagement with the plate 15 for unlocking the last.

The fore part 1 of the last is provided with arecess 16 in its fear face 6 above the bearing plate 15 for receiving the arm 12 of the locking-dog after it has been drawn upwardly out of engagement with the plate 15 and the heel part swung toward the fore part for contracting the last.

The fore and heel parts of the last may be madeof wood or other suitable material and the post-hole tube, the locking-dog-retaining tube, and the hinge-strap maybe cast integral, the heel part being suitably recessed for receiving the strap, the post-hole tube, and the locking-dogretaining tube. I g i The last constructed as above described is composed of a verysmall number ofparts, and is'at the same time very strong and durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

What I claim as my invention is l. A last comprising fore and heel parts hinged together, a tube fixed within the heel part and a dog fitted to slide within the said tube toward and away from the bottom of the last and having a forwardly-projecting arm arranged to engage the rear face of the fore part for locking the last in its extended position, and means for holding the dog against lateral movement within the said tube.

2. A last comprising fore and heel parts hinged together, a tube fixed within the heel part, a dog fitted to slide within the tube toward and away from the bottom of the last and having a forwardly-projecting arm arranged to engage the rear face of the fore part for locking the last in its extended position, a spring located within the tube for yieldin gly holding the dog at the limit of its downward movement, and means for holding the dog against lateral movement within the said tube.

3. A lastcomprising fore and heel parts hinged together, the fore part having a bear- HARRY \VILLIAM MOBBS.

Witnesses:

HENRY F. LoEWER, GEORGE ll. HARRIS. 

